Justin Baldoni personally attended Blake Lively’s legal deposition on 31 July in New York. Here’s what happened.
The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, co-stars and director of ‘It Ends With Us’, has taken an unexpected turn: according to a report by TMZ, Baldoni was physically present during Lively’s deposition, held on 31 July in New York City. The actress has accused him of sexual harassment and professional retaliation—allegations the actor has strongly denied.
According to the outlet, Baldoni sat in the room as his legal team questioned Lively at her lawyers’ offices. Although Judge Lewis J. Liman had granted a protective order allowing Lively’s team to control the location and attendees of the deposition, it did not prevent the actor from being present.
What’s at stake?
Baldoni, 41, is seeking to clear his name following the allegations. His lawyer has described him as “a person who wants to be vindicated, and that’s all that he cares about.” In June, his $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, for defamation and extortion, was dismissed by the court. His legal team chose not to refile.
Conflicting statements
Speaking to TMZ, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, stated: “She will have to answer under oath and bring forward real evidence. We’ll see how consistent her story is with the actual facts.”
Lively, for her part, responded firmly following the dismissal of the countersuit: “I have felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit and the manufactured shame meant to break us. I’m more determined than ever to defend every woman’s right to protect her integrity, her dignity, and her story.”
What’s next
The trial is set for March 2026, with both Lively and Baldoni expected to testify. As proceedings move forward, the case continues to spark conversation around power, truth, and the right to speak out in the film industry.
-380x380.webp)
-380x380.webp)
